VT president Charles Steger just announced that he plans to step down. VT BOV is beginning the search for a new president.— Jimmy Robertson (@jrobIHS) May 14, 2013
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Expanded article from the Roanoke Times, along with the letter Steger sent out to the community:
http://roanoke.com/news/nrv/1931604-12/virginia-tech-president-charles-s...
I just now got a copy of that letter via e-mail from the university. They're sending it to everyone I guess.
So who's gonna sign my diploma when I defend during summer session!?
Seriously though, he did a lot for this place and I hope they take their time finding his replacement.
May 14, 2013
Dear Students,
When one is totally absorbed in doing what one loves, fourteen years pass in an instant. Serving as president of this great university has been the most demanding and yet the most exhilarating and fulfilling experience of my life--from the exuberance at the beginning of the fall semester to the elation at commencement and every single day in between.
Each day, I am inspired and awed by your talent, creativity, and brilliance. You have embraced Ut Prosim and the Principles of Community. You set an example for the faculty, staff, and alumni with your solid commitment to service and strong spirit of community, which sets Virginia Tech apart.
I am thankful as well for our tremendous faculty and staff. Because of them, Virginia Tech is thriving despite the economic challenges that we continue to face. Together, we now have achieved most of the goals that I set out during my inauguration speech in 2000, and we also have seized opportunities as they arose to advance the strategic goals of the university. At all times, we have been guided by the overarching goal to provide our students with the highest quality educational experience--to awaken you to new opportunities and help you to discover your passion in life and acquire the skills and competencies to thrive in a rapidly changing world.
Today, I write to share with you my plans to step down as the 15th president of Virginia Tech. The Board of Visitors is beginning the search process, and I am confident that with the fine caliber of leadership on the board, they will select an individual well-suited to our unique organization. I will continue to serve as president until my successor begins work.
Years ago, I left a career in the private sector to pursue my passion for teaching and profound belief in the transformative power of education. This university and most importantly you--our students--have been my passion for more than four decades, and I have great optimism for the future. Virginia Tech is one of the nation's top universities and has a growing international reputation. The promise of this university eclipses all the challenges.
My wish for you is that when you graduate, you will have found your passion in life and that you will dare to pursue it. I have had that extraordinary opportunity. It has been an honor and a privilege to lead this dynamic university as its president.
With appreciation,
Charles Steger
Pretty big news
i nominate stiney to replace him. or maybe billy hite. that's how this works, right?
Wow, that's huge news. Hard to believe we have only had 15 presidents. Does anybody know how the selection process works? Is it just a simple vote by the BOV?
The BOV makes a recommendation and submits it to the governor. The governor then has the option to accept the recommendation (and hire), reject and ask the BOV for other options, or make his own hire. Since he appoints the BOV, it's always option 1.
#exumforpresident
Theoretically, how big of a resume enhancer is "University President"... if one were to express his interest for the position?
"Since Steger became president, the university has added over 2.4 million square feet of space, mostly in new construction. This surpasses all growth that occurred over the entire period between 1872 and 1960."
via http://www.president.vt.edu/steger_bio.html
Wow.
Every time I return, there's a new large building or parking deck. No wonder the cavs are jealous; we have nicer classrooms and buildings.
well that AND you don't constantly bump into pompous d-bags everywhere you go...
Am I the only one one who thinks this is way too sudden to be Steger just stepping down because it's time? By midsummer, it'll probably be out that he was forced to resign because he gave Stiney a secret contract guaranteeing HCIW or some such shit.
It seems like ~15 years is pretty standard for any Tech President. I wouldn't read too much into it.
For a couple years now it's been thought that Steegdaddy would retire sometime soon.
As a student and now an alum I always liked President Steger. I thought he did a great job running and promoting VT.
I've got mixed feelings about him. He's built Tech up, modernized campus, and sold our brand. For that, I respect him. But being in the Corps, I find it hard to like someone who wants to get rid of my organization.
Not to start a war on here, but there's a lot that goes on that I'm not sure you know about regarding why many officials at VT dislike the Corps. It has to do with your leadership and how well they play with others. The Corps will remain, but it's very easy to say "If you don't listen, you won't be around to do anything much longer."
Oh, you aren't starting anything. Trust me, I dislike the Corps too. The organization thinks it's way more valuable and important than it is, and never misses an opportunity to toot its own horn. However, it's a valuable experience for those going into the military because it teaches important lessons about bureaucracy and bullshittery. While there are major flaws, I don't take well to someone who hasn't experienced it advocating its extinction.
My experience in conversations with some of the powers that be is that they don't have a problem with the Corps as much as the way it is run by the people in charge. There are some liabilities that they have had to absorb and have put a sour taste in the mouth of many officials. I think they all understand its value to the cadets, but the people in charge are the problem, not the institution that is the Corps of Cadets.
I can agree with this.
Wow, another well-thought-out, civil conversation between two people with opposing views that ends with an agreement about their initial misunderstanding. Once again, you guys are MISUSING THE INTERNET.
LOL! That's really scary to see on a sports blog, where raw emotion is usually king!
My point exactly.
I don't think we really have opposing views so much as different perspectives. I'm also not representative of most of the Corps, because I'm one of the few cynical bastards that didn't chug the Kool-Aid.
Oh, I definitely saw that. However, the joke is that on the internet, different perspectives = opposing views = sexual jokes about one's mother and/or "accusations" of homosexuality. Side note: jokes are much funnier when you have to explain them.... Right?
They must be. Because nobody got my original joke, and people mistaking jokes as digs at people=downvotes.
Great man. Did a great job securing VT (and the ACCs) position in the college football play-off. Being the head of that decision board also. Really strengthened our conferences foot hold as a power amongst the other conferences.
No question, Steger's been great for VT. I'm definitely interested to see who they'll bring in next and whether the new president will continue/finish what Steger started or take the school in a different direction.
#JOHNBOYERFORVTPRESIDENT
But seriously, Steger was awesome. Sad to see him go. Hope they bring in a worthy candidate.
Boyer's too young, but I'd be all for that in a few years. My vote would Dr. James I. Robertson, the best goddamned teacher I've ever had the privilege of learning from.
He actually visited my Guard unit during our Annual Training last summer. We built a road in Stafford County for a Civil War site.
http://fscws.org/
Boyer might get VT in trouble for saying something off-the-cuff! He was a trip!
If Boyer were president, all official communication would be in meme form.
Since this thread had some discussion of the corps, and I ran across this video today that I somehow had never seen before, I decided to share it.
Anyone else think that the song choice isn't a very good fit? Or is it referencing something I'm not aware of..
They would play this on the jumbo tron during games in 2006? maybe 2007? If I remember correctly Enter Sandman was playing instead of the song it plays now.
It was awesome when it played in the stadium. A loud cheer would errupt from the student section when the Hokie Bird landed.
07-08. I was a freshmen for the 08 season and they played it with thunderstruck I believe. (I know it was an ac/dc song anyway).
don't you mean you were a freshman for the 07 season? Yes, it was Thunderstruck. All the Army kids went crazy.
Yeah, I was thinking of basketball seasons. Damn I spend too much time here in Cassell. Need to get out of here, all these freshmen parents are getting on my nerves.
This played on the Titontron and the "Jerk Alert" cartoons were the best
I nominate Prof. Carl Prather for President!
That's amazing. He used to come into the copy shop where I worked all the time.
Ahhh...Prather. I loved this dude! We got him to cancel class one day because we had to bail one of our classmates out of jail. It was a very small class (~12-15 people) and one of our friends had been arrested in an illegal poker sting. "Where's Mr Chu?" said Prather. We were like he is in jail. You heard about the gambling bust didn't you? He was like yeah, I heard about that and was like what are you doing here...you gotta go bail him out. Then he said he expected a presentation the next day we had class...CLASSIC!!
I had some crazy math class with that guy senior year! He would give take home tests and someone would tell him how hard it was and he'd start doing the problems for us on the board to show us how to do them. Then he'd give us a week extension on the test. The only way i could have gotten a good grade in a class that hard!
#BUDFOSTER2013